Counter-rotation turboblower



My 24, 1923, n wzmz O. D. H. BENTLEY COUNTER ROTATION TURBOBLOWER Filed July 16. i920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lufly 24, 1923..

O. D. H. BENTLEY COUNTER ROTATION TURBOBLOWER 1920 2 ShQens-Sheet 2 Filed July 16.

Patented July 2 1923..

ea are p reenter rarest recs.

oLIvER p. H. BENTLEY, or :uoRroLK, Massaoncsnrrs, essreuor. To a. r. 'STURI'E- vau'r COMPANY, or HYDE PARK, umssaonusnrrs, a coarona'rrorr or Massa- CHUSETTS.

COUNTER-ROTATION TURBOBLOWER.

Application filed July 16,

To all whom itmag concern;

.Be it known that I, OLIVER D. H. BENT- LEY, a-citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and 5 State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Counter-Rotation Turboblowers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and, use the same.

This invention relates to centrifugal blowers or pumps and more particularly to 16 centrifugal blowers or pumps which are driven by a high speed prime mover, such as an elastic fluid turbine.

The pressure produced by centrifugal blowers depends upon the rotational s eed 2 of the fan wheel which .has necessarily een confined to relatively low speeds which would not subject the fan wheel to strains beyond the limit of the mechanical resistance or strength of the material of which" the fan wheel is composed. Elastic fluid turbines, on the other hand, are efficiently operated only at relatively high rotational speeds. It has been the practice heretofore where a centrifugal blower or pump was to be driven by some high speed prime mover, such as a turbine, to interpose gearing or other speed reducing device's between the turbine and blower.

One of the objects of the present invention -36 is to produce a construction in which the blower is driven directly from the turbine without the interposition of speed reducing mechanism and without requiring speeds of the blower above the limits of safety orof 40 the turbine below the limits of practical efficiency. v

A further object of the invention is to produce a power-work unit such, forexample, as a turbo-blower, having counter rotating power producing and power applying elements, in which the elements are so constructed and arranged as to counteract the tendency of" the rotors of the power producing element to 'turn at different speeds,

'50 thereby producing a balancedconstruction in which the speeds'of therotating elements are substantially the same.

. Another object of the invention is to provide certain further improvements in the construction and arrangement of turbo- 1920. Serial No. e9s,7ie.

blowers tending to render both the turbine and the blower more efficient in operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a complete and efficient lubricat-' ing system for the various bearings of the turbo-blower.

To the accomplishment of these objects,

the present invention consists in the construction, arrangement and comblnatlon of parts hereinafter. described and more particof the invention, the advantages of which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the following description.

The several features of the invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in central vertical section, of a turbo-blower embodying the features of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view of one end thereof, showing an alternative construction of the blower; Fig.

3-is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig.

are located. One of the rotors is integrally formed with a cylindrical sleeve or hollow shaft extending from one side thereof and surrounding the shaft of the other rotor. The blower. comprises a suitablecasin containing a two-stage fan. The fan bla es are carried by two rotary fan wheels, one of which is secured to the hollow shaft and the other of which is secured to the solid shaft so that the two fan wheels are turned in opposite directions by the counter-rotation of the rotors.

The casing 5 which encloses the turbine rotors and the rotor shafts, and upon Which the blower casing is mounted, comprises an integrally formed lower member or body 6 having a base 7 and, an upper member or cover 8, the casing members being divided in the horizontal axial plane of the rotors and secured together in any suitable manner. The casing- 5 is formed to provide a chamber 9 in which the rotors are contained: and a chamber 10 between the chamber 9 ularly defined in the claims. Other features one as the primary rotor and the other as the secondary rotor. The primary rotor-carries the steam nozzles and one set of buckets or vanes, while the secondary rotor is provided with two sets of buckets, all of the nozzles and buckets being in substantially the same plane of rotation. The steam from the rotating nozzles is directed into the oppositely rotating buckets of the secondary rotor, from which it passes into the buckets of the primary rotor, and thence back into the sec- I ond set of secondary buckets from which it finally escapes into the casing. In general, the construction and arrangement of the turbine rotors and the rotor shafts in the present turbo-blower, is similar to that of the rotors and rotor shafts of a counter rotating turbine, illustrated, described and claimed in a co-pendii g appl1 cation, Serial No. 280,807, filed arch 5, 1919. As therein disclosed, the primary rotor of the turbin comprises a hollow disk or wheel 11 (Figs. 1 and 5) that is carried at the inner end of a shaft 12 which is hollow throughout a portion of its length. The shaft 12 extends through a stuffing box 13 within the casing 5 and is journaled in a bearing 14 that is suitably supported at the end of the casing. The bearing 14 1s enclosed by a protecting casing 15 which is secured to the casing 5 and which carrles a washer 16 of felt or similar material that cooperates with a grooved collar 17 on the shaft 12 to prevent th entrance of dust. The disk 11 is composed of two sections l9 and 20, as shown in Fig. 5, the section 19 being integral with-the shaft 15 while the section 20 is riveted to the section 19 and is integral with a solid shaft 21, co-axial With the shaft 15 .and extending in the opposite direction therefrom.

The secondary rotor of the turbine comprises a bucket wheel 22 which is arranged adjacent the primary rotor and is integrally formed with a hollow shaft 23 that is mounted to rotate upon the shaft 21 of the primary rotor, anti-friction bearing sleeyes 24 being secured within the hollow shaft23 to provide bearing surfaces-ifor the shaft 21. The hollow shaft 23 is journaled inbearings 25 and 26 which are supported by the casing 5 within the chamber 10.

Steam is supplied to a chamber 27 (Fig. 'i)' in th interior of the primary rotor. Thesteam is led from the source of supply through an inlet passage 28 (Fig. 1) in the turbine casing to an annularchamber 29, surrounding the shaft 15 of the primary rotor. The steam passes from the chamber 29, through openings in a perforated ring 30, commonly known as a cage or lantern,

which surrounds the shaft 15 and is centrally located in the stufiing box 16, and thence the steam passes through inlet ports 31 into the hollow portions of said shaft which communicates with the chamber 27.

The primary rotor is provided with a plurality of expanding nozzles 33 (Figs. 4 and 5) which are outwardly spaced an equal distance from the axis of the rotor and equi-distant from each other. The nozzles 33 deliver completely expanded steam from the chamber 27 within the primary rotor, to buckets 34 that are formed in the secondary rotor, thus causing the two rotors to turn in opposite directions. The buckets 34 are concentrically arranged about the axis of the rotors, equi-distant from each other, and in the radial plane of rotation of the nozzles. In the construction shown, the primary rotor is also provided with a lurality of peripheral-buckets 35 arrange to receive steam from the buckets 34 of the secondary rotor and the secondary rotor is further provided with a plurality of peripheral buckets 36 arranged to receive steam after it has. passed through the buckets 34 of the primary. rotor. These buckets, together with the nozzles 33, are all concentrically arranged about the axis of the rotors and are all in the same plane of rotation. The construction of the nozzles and buckets is similar to that described in the prior application above mentioned. I

The steam exhausts from the outer row of buckets into the turbine ohamber9and thence through a suitable exhaust conduit, not shown. In order to steam along the hollow rotor shaft or sleeve 23 into the chamber 10, packing rings 37 are provided while a series of concentric grooves 38 on the solid rotor shaft, at the end ad acent the primary rotor, prevent a simllar escape of steam betweensaid shaft and the bearing sleeve of the secondary rotor shaft.

The blower is located at the opposite end of the casing 8 from that at which the turbine is'located. The counter-rotating members which constitute the two-stage fan are directly connected, one'with the primary rotor and the other with the secondary rotor of the turbine, and hereinafter, I01 purposes of description, these members bedesigna-ted the primary rotor fan and secondary rotor fan, respectively. Each of the fans consists of a disk or wheel which is provided with a plurality of fan blades. Theses fan blades are arranged at one side of the" disk and those of each fan are outwardly spaced an equal distance from the axis of the rotor shaft and equi-distant or fans will prevent the escape of from each other. In order that the blades 1 tor;

eeaeea.

disks is of greater diameter than the other. In, the construction shown in Fig. 1, the larger disk is secured to the shaft of the primary rotor and arranged with its blades enthe larger disk and thus the speeds and torque reactions of the two rotating elements are equalized. I

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the secondary rotor fan, which is the smaller of the two and discharges airin the path of the blades of the other fan, comprises a disk 40, having a hub 41, which is keyed to a tapered portion 42 near the end of the hollow shaft of the secondary rotor. The end. of the hollow shaft is threaded to receive a nut 43 by means-of which the disk is forced against the tapered portion and thus held firmly on the shaft. In order that the fan blades may act more effectively to draw in the air surrounding the casing at one side of the disk 40 the disk is dished slightly toward the free ends of the rotor shafts. The fan blades are indicated at Hand are arranged on the side of the disk which faces the turbine, curving inwardly from the periph-- ery of the disk and perpendicularly disposed with respect thereto. The blades are formed with four edges, one of which is suitably secured to the face of the disk 40, and the 0pposite edge is similarly secured to the inner offer no obstruction to the passage of the air through the blower. In order to' increase the capacity of the fan the blades are=made wider at the inner than at .the outer edges, and each blade extends. nearer the rotor shaft at the edge which is secured to the disk than at the edge which is secured to the he primary rotor fan, in the constructionillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, comprises a disk'5O which is of greater diameter than the disk 40 and-is arranged adjacent to the side of the disk which is farthest fromthe "turbine. The disk 50 is provided with a hub 51, which is keyed to a tapered portion rojecting beyond the end of the secon ary rotor shaft. The disk 50 is forced against the tapered portion 52, and firmly held in place on the shaft by" means of-a nut 53 which is screwed onto the threaded end of the shaft; "The fan blades with which the -disk 50 is provided are indicated at 54 and are arranged along the outer portion of the disk which extends beyond the periphery of the disk {10 so that they encircle the blades of thesmaller fan. The blades 54 are'somewhat similar in form to the blades 4:4: and are supported in a like manner, one of the four edges thereof being secured to the side of the disk 50, and the opposite edge to the inner side of a fiat'dished ring 55, the inner and outer edges being free. The blades 54 are disposed perpendicularly with relation to the disk and curve inwardly from the periphery of the disk. The blades of each fan are so arranged relatively to the blades of the other fan, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, that the counter-rotation of the fans will force the air outwardly therethrough.

The blower casing is of the involute type, having an axial intake opening 60, and a peripherally arranged discharge passage 61 forreceiving the air from the. fans. A portion of the bearing 26 for the hollow rotor shaft projects into the axial opening 60,

which is of greater diameter than the bearing, so that an annular intake port is provided between the bearing and the adjacent portion of the blower casing. The blower casing is constructed in two sections 62 and 63, joined in the central vertical plane of the peripheral discharge passage 61 and secured together by bolts 64. The blower casing as a whole is secured to the casing 5. by bolts 65, extending through an outwardly turned flange 66 of a semi-annular wall 67 which is formedon the section 62, and which embracesthe end of the casing 5 surrounding the bearing 26. The wall 67 is provided with a series of openings 68 permitting entrance of air to the blower intake opening 60. 'side of a flat dished ring 45, while the outer and inneredges of the blades are freeso as to In order to prevent the development of endthrust of the fans due to the drawing of air into the blower from one side only, each of the disks 40'and 50 is provided with a series of openings 69 which effect equalization of pressures on opposite sides of the disks.

An alternative form of blower is illus: trated in Fig. 2, in which the fan disk carrying the inner row of fan blades is secured to the shaft of the primary rotor and the fan disk which carries the surrounding outer row of'fan blades is secured to the secondary rotorshaft- Int-his figure the shaft of the primary rotor is indicated at 123 while the primary and secondary rotor fans are indicated at 150 and 14:0, respectively. With such an arrangement of the fans relatiyely to therotor' shafts the blower casing may be constructed with an unobpump 7 0 which draws oil from the supply 121 and the. shaft of the secondary rotor at contained in the lower portion of the casing 8 and forces it through pipes 71 and 72, producing a constant circulation of the oil throughout the bearings 14, 25 and 26. Any! ordinary or suitable type of rotary or gear pump may be used and it may be actuated, as shown in Fig. 1, by connection with the hollow rotor shaft through a driving shaft 73 and intermeshing worm gearing comprising a worm wheel 74, secured to the shaft 73, and a worm 75, secured to the shaft of the primary rotor.

The bearings within the casing 5 are lubricated by means of which oil is forced through a pipe 71. As shown in Fig. 1, the pipe 71 conveys the oil to the bearing surface Within the bearing 26 near the inner end thereof and thence it passes through a series of openings 76 in the hollow rotor shaft at one side of the worm 75. into an oil chamber 77, surrounding the solid rotor shaft between the anti-friction bearing sleeves 24. From the chamber 77, the Oll passes through a series of openings 78 inthe hollow rotorshaft, at the opposite side of the worm 75,

. to the bearing surface within t e bearing 25.

The oil works outwardly from the chamber 77, at each end thereof, and along the hearing surfaces between the anti-friction sleeves 24 and the solid rotor shaft. The oil which is conveyed to the bearing surfaces of the bearings 25 and 26 by means of the open: ings 78 and 76, respectively, in the ho low rotor shaft, works outwardly along the bearing surfaces in both directions from said openings and drains from the outer ends of each of the bearings back into the supply contained within the casing 5. The oil which lubricates the bearings of the shaft 21 0f the primary rotor is prevented from escaping into the interior of the blower casing, by means of a series of concentric grooves 79, which are formed on the shaft near the outer end thereof. The oil is prevented from escaping into the turbine chamber 11, between the .rotors, by means of the series of concentric grooves 38 (Fig; 5) which are formed on the primary rotor shaft adjacent the rotor and which also serve, as hereinbeforeexplained, to prevent escape of steamfrom the turbine chamber 11. The

*oil which reaches the concentric grooves 79 at the outer end of the primary rotor shaft escapes through a series of openings 81 in the anti-friction sleeve 24, through a passage 82 therein and through aseries of open ings 83 which communicate with the interior of the casing 5. The oil which reaches the grooves 80, at the rotor end of the primary! rotor shaft, escapes through a series of openings 84 (Fig. 5) in the anti-friction sleeve 24, through the passage 85 therein and through a series of openings 86 which communicate with the interior of the casing 5.

The bearing 14 for the outer end of the new is shaft 12 is lubricated by means of oil that blower it is to be clearly understood that it is not confined in its application to apparatus of this particular type except in so far as defined in the claims but that it may be advantageously embodied in other devices having rotary driven members wherever the desideratum is the production of high relative and low absolute or linear speed of said members. 7

The nature and scope of the present invention having been indicated and a device embodying the several features of the invention in their preferred form having been specifically described, what is claimed as 1. The combination with an elastic fluid turbine having rotors adapted to turn in opposite directions, and nozzles carried by one of the rotors, of a blower comprising two rotary members of different diameters provided with fan blades and adapted to turn in opposite directions, the member of greater diameter being directly connected with the rotor carrying the nozzles and the other member being directly. connected with the other rotor. i

2. The combination in a turbo blower of a blower casing having an inlet opening at one side thereof and a peripherally arranged exhaust chamber and discharge opening, a driving shaft, and a centrifugal fan comprising a disk secured to the shaft and arranged adjacent the opposite side of the casing and forming therewith a circular chamber in direct communication at its peripherywith the exhaust chamber, the disk having a plurality of blades projecting from its inner side and a plurality of openings extending through the disk to provide a continuous flow of air through the circular chamber and thence into the exhaust chamber for equalizing the pressure on opposite sides of'the' disk.

3. A turbo-blower having, in combination,

a shaft, a bearing for the shaft, a turbine rotor secured to one end of the shaft, a casing enclosing said rotor, and a blower comprising a centrifugal fan secured to the other end of the shaft, and a casing enclosing the fan, the blower casing having a peripheral discharge passage and being provided, on the side nearest the turbine rotor, with an axial opening through which said bearing projects, the opening being of greater diameter than the projecting portion of the bearing, thereby providing an annular intake port for the blower,

4:. A turbo-blower having, in combine tion, an elastic fluid turbine comprising a casing, a pair of rotors mounted in the casing for rotation in opposite directions, one rotor having steam delivery nozzles and the other rotor having steam receiving buckets arranged to rotate in the plane of rotation of the nozzles, a shaft for one of said rotors, a hollow shaft for the other rotor mounted upon the first mentioned shaft, meansfor supplying steam to the nozzles, a blower comprising a casing, a pair "of rotary members located within the casing, one of said members carrying a plurality of circularly disposed fan blades and being secured to the shaft of the rotor which carries the nozzles and the otherof said members being secured to the other rotor shaft and carrying'a plurality of circularly disposed fan blades arranged concentrically with and rotating in the plane of the fan blades on the first mentioned member.

5. A turbo-blower having, in combination, an elastic fluid turbine comprising a casing, a pair of rotors mounted in the easing for rotation in opposite directions, one rotor having steam delivery nozzles and the other rotor having steam receiving buckets surrounding the nozzles and arranged to rotate in the plane of rotation of the nozzles, a shaft for the rotor carrying the nozzles, a hollow shaft for the other rotor mounted upon the first mentioned shaft,

means for supplying steam t the nozzles a blower comprising a casing, a pair of r0- till tary members located within the casing, one of said members carrying a plurality of circularly disposed fan blades and being secured to the shaft of the rotor which carries the nozzles and the other of said members being secured to the other rotor shaft and carrying a plurality of circularly disposed fan blades arranged concentrically with and surrounded by the fan blades on the first mentioned member.

6. A turbo blower having, in combina tion, a hollow shaft, bearings for the shaft, a second shaft journaled within the hollow shaft, turbine rotors severally secured to said shafts at corresponding ends thereof, casing enclosing the rotors, a blower comprising fan wheels severally secured to the other ends of said shaft, and a casing enclosing the fan wheels, the casing being mounted upon the turbine casing and having an axial inlet opening on the side toward the turbine casing.

7. A turbo blower having, in combination, a hollow shaft, bearings for the shaft, a second shaft journaled within the hollow shaft, turbine rotors severally secured to said shafts at corresponding ends thereof, a casing enclosing the rotors, a blower comprising fan wheels severally secured to the other ends of said shaft, and a casing having an axial intake opening and a curved supporting flange adjacent the intake opening, thefiange being provided with openings for the passage of air to the intake opening and means for securing the flange to the turbine casing,

OLIVER D. H. BENTLEY. 

